Gas Fireplaces
Freelance Writer
Gas fireplaces are in demand thanks to their affordability and
convenience. According to the Hearth, Patio and Barbeque
Association (HPBA), more than 2 million gas hearth products
were sold last year, a glowing testament to their benefits.
Gas Fireplace Efficiency
The name of the game in gas fireplaces is efficiency, and
that’s one reason gas fireplaces are so popular. “The high cost
of energy is making consumers rethink how they heat their home,”
says Carter Keithley, president and CEO of HPBA. “Using
supplemental hearth appliances … allows families to turn down
the central furnace thermostat.”
To get the most heat from a gas fireplace, do your homework.
Each gas fireplace’s heat output is measured in BTUs (British
Thermal Units), which measure how much heat it takes to warm
your space—the general equation being 10,000 BTUs to every 350
sq. ft. A gas fireplace should have a BTU output rating listed
as well as an Annual Flue Utilization Efficiency rating. Look
for a BTU output rating that fits your room, a higher AFUE
rating to fit your energy bill, a great surround that fits your
style, and Brick-Anew’s fireplace screens, fireplace mantels and
fireplace tools to help fit your new gas fireplace into your
room’s décor.
Although there are features inherent to most gas fireplaces
like a variety of decorative surrounds in free-standing,
zero-clearance or corner models, there are other features
exclusive to each of the three primary types of gas fireplaces
on the market today.
Direct-Vent Gas Fireplaces
Sealed, direct-vent gas fireplaces are popular because of their
consistent heat levels and their safety—they don’t release toxic
combustion by-products into your home’s interior air.
Direct-vent gas fireplaces instead pull combustible air from
outside and then through a vent in the top or back of the unit.
The exhaust fumes are pulled back outside via a vent in an
outside wall or via the chimney. These gas fireplaces boast
another advantage—you can heat other rooms by installing a duct
kit to vent the warmed air to other areas of your house, and no
existing fireplace is required.
Ventless or Vent-free Gas Fireplaces
Vent-free or ventless gas fireplaces are the most economic
choice. They cost less than direct-vent fireplaces, are easier
to install and you also don’t need an existing fireplace.
Because they use the home’s interior air for combustion, and
then pump that air back into the room, they’re more efficient.
But vent-free gas fireplaces also don’t pull fumes away from
the interior air. It’s important to note that for that reason,
ventless gas fireplaces are illegal in some states. Most
vent-free gas fireplaces come equipped with sensors to detect
carbon monoxide and oxygen levels, however, and some experts
say the newer ventless gas fireplaces are safe.
Gas Fireplace Inserts
If you already have a wood-burning fireplace but want
energy-saving warmth, a gas fireplace insert can be installed
into your existing fireplace’s firebox. A gas fireplace insert
is usually a set of ceramic gas logs with a burner underneath
and a glass outer screen. It’s fueled by access to the home’s
natural gas line or via a hook-up to an outside tank and can be
ventless, direct-vent or the older, less-efficient B-vent, which
means combustible air is drawn from the home’s interior and
vented through the chimney.
After installing your insert, complete your updated look by
using Brick-Anew’s patent-pending fireplace brick paint on your
existing masonry. Then, pull it all together with a new
fireplace mantel, fireplace screen or a gleaming set of
fireplace tools to create finish off your room’s heartwarming
new focal point.
About The Author: By a Freelance writer sponsored by
http://www.brick-anew.com/ that
provides fireplace glass doors:
http://www.brick-anew.com/glass-doors/fireplace-glass-doors.html
Brick-Anew has been a providor of fireplace paint & accessories
since 1997.
See Also:
Index of All
Info on Home: Heating & Air Conditioning
Search our site for any Home, Lawn or Garden Info
